Sliding mechanism

ABSTRACT

A sliding mechanism includes an inner rail with a first protrusion and a second protrusion. An outer rail with a third protrusion and a stopping surface; a middle rail slidably mounted between the inner rail and the outer rail along a first direction, and having a resisting portion; a positioning member being slidably mounted on the middle rail in a second direction. The inner rail non-slidably latches with the middle rail when the inner rail slides a first predetermined distance. The resisting portion latches with the stopping surface to enable the middle rail to be non-slidably relative to outer rail after the inner rail together with the middle rail slides a second predetermined distance; and the positioning member slides relative to the second protrusion in the second direction to release the positioning member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to co-pending U.S. Patent Application (Attorney Docket No. US33047), entitled “SLIDING MECHANISM”, by Yu et al. This application has the same assignee as the present application and has been concurrently filed herewith. The above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to sliding mechanisms, particularly to sliding mechanisms used in servers.

2. Description of Related Art

A typical sliding mechanism of a server generally includes an inner rail, a middle rail, and an outer rail. The inner rail is mounted on the server, the outer rail is mounted to a support frame of the server, and the middle rail is mounted between the inner rail and the outer rail to extend the sliding distance of the sliding mechanism. However, in the conventional product configurations, the sliding mechanisms can be complicated and they tend to take up a lot of space.

Therefore, there is a room for improvement in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary sliding mechanism for server. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a sliding mechanism.

FIG. 2 is partially enlarged view of the sliding mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the sliding mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4-8 show the sliding mechanism shown in FIG. 3 in different states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment of a sliding mechanism is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The sliding mechanism includes an inner rail 10, a middle rail 30, an outer rail 50, and a latching assembly 60. The middle rail 30 is mounted between the inner rail 10 and the outer rail 50. The latching assembly 60 includes a first protrusion 61, a second protrusion 62, a first position member such as a roller 63, an elastic element 64, a sliding groove 65, a resisting portion 655, and a third protrusion 66. The first protrusion 61 and the second protrusion 62 are both positioned on the inner rail 10. The sliding groove 65 and the resisting portion 655 are positioned on the middle rail 30. The third protrusion 66 is positioned on the outer rail 50.

The inner rail 10 includes two sliding plates 14 respectively located at opposite sides thereof. The first protrusion 61 is substantially arcuate, including a first protrusion valley 611 and a first protrusion peak 613. The first protrusion 61, in this exemplary embodiment, is positioned at one side of the inner rail 10 facing the middle rail 30 and near one end of the inner rail 10. The second protrusion 62 has substantially the same shape as, but is larger than the first protrusion 61, and the second protrusion 62 is situated at the same side as the first protrusion 61. The second protrusion 62 is located at another end of the inner rail 10 and includes a second protrusion valley 621 and a second protrusion peak 623.

The middle rail 30 includes two sliding blocks 34 respectively positioned at opposite sides thereof. The sliding blocks 34 are for slidably engaging with the outer rail 50 so the outer rail 50 can slide relative to the middle rail 30. Each sliding block 34 defines a sliding groove 342 facing the other sliding block 34. Each sliding groove 342 slidably engages one of the sliding plates 14 to enable the middle rail 30 to slide relative to the inner rail 10. The middle rail 30 further includes a hook 323 for latching the elastic element 64 to the middle rail 30. An opening 322 is defined through the middle rail 30 and is used for allowing the elastic element 64 to pass through the middle rail 30.

Referring to FIG. 2, the guiding groove 65 is transversely defined through the middle rail 30. The guiding groove 65 is for guiding the roller 63 to slide relative to the middle rail 30 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction (an arrow shown in FIG. 5) of the inner rail 10. The guiding groove 65 includes a guiding groove valley 651 and a guiding groove peak 652 that is larger than the guiding groove valley 651.

The resisting portion 655 protrudes from the middle rail 30 toward the outer rail 50. The resisting portion 655 is for resisting the outer rail 50 so the middle rail 30 and the outer rail 50 can slide together relative to the inner rail 10.

The outer rail 50 has two sliding slots 52 respectively defined at opposite sides thereof. Each sliding slot 52 slidably engages with one of the sliding blocks 34 so the outer rail 50 can slide relative to the middle rail 30.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the third protrusion 66 is substantially arcuate, and includes a third protrusion valley 661 and a third protrusion peak 663 communicating with the third protrusion valley 661. The third protrusion 66, in this exemplary embodiment, is positioned at one side of the outer rail 50 opposing the middle rail 30 near one end of the outer rail 50. The outer rail 50 further defines a latching slot 662 between the second protrusion valley 661 and the third protrusion peak 663, which latches with the roller 63. The outer rail 50 further includes a stopping surface 664 located near the third protrusion peak 663. The stopping surface 664 is for resisting against the resisting portion 655 so the outer rail 50 slides together with the middle rail 30.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the roller 63 includes a main body 631, a first pin 633 protruding from one side of the main body 631, a second pin 635 protruding from another side of the main body 631. A retaining slot 637 defined around the first pin 633 near the main body 631 and a securing slot 639 defined around the second pin 635 near the main body 631. The first pin 633 slides along the first protrusion 61 when the middle rail 30 slides relative to the inner rail 10. The second pin 635 slides along the third protrusion 66 when the middle rail 30 slides relative to the outer rail 50. The retaining slot 637 is for retaining the elastic element 64 on the roller 63. The securing slot 639 is for slidably securing with the portions of the middle rail 30 surrounding the guiding groove valley 651 so the roller 63 is slidably secured to the middle rail 30. In this exemplary embodiment, the second pin 635 is smaller than the guiding groove peak 652 so the second pin 635 can pass through the guiding groove peak 652. The second pin 635 is larger than the guiding groove valley 651 to prevent the second pin 635 and the middle rail 30 from separating when the second pin 635 is located in the guiding groove valley 651.

The elastic element 64 is V-shaped and includes a latching portion 641 formed at the center thereof, an inserting portion 642 is formed at one end thereof and a retaining ring 645 is formed at another end thereof. The latching portion 641 latches with the hook 323 to hold the elastic element 64 to the middle rail 30. The inserting portion 642 is inserted in the opening 322 to assist the elastic element 64 to hold the middle rail 30. The retaining ring 645 wraps in the retaining slot 637 to latch the elastic element 64 to the roller 63.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, in assembly, the inserting portion 642 passes through the opening 322 until the inserting portion 642 is located between the guiding groove peak 652 and the guiding groove valley 651. The latching portion 641 latches with the hook 323 so the elastic element 64 is latched to the middle rail 30. The retaining ring 645 wraps in the retaining slot 637 to retain the roller 63 to the elastic element 64. The second pin 635 passes through the guiding groove peak 652 until the securing slot 639 is located in the guiding groove peak 652. Then the second pin 635 slides to the guiding groove valley 651 so the securing slot 639 slidably latches with the portion of the middle rail 30 surrounding the guiding groove valley 651.

Each sliding plate 14 is slidably accommodated in one of the sliding grooves 342 so the inner rail 10 is slidably mounted to the middle rail 30. Referring to FIG. 4, at this time, the second pin 635 is located near the guiding groove peak 652 and the first pin 633 is located at the first protrusion peak 613 so the elastic element 64 is compressed. Finally, each sliding block 34 is slidably accommodated in one of the sliding slots 52 so the middle rail 30 is slidably mounted to the outer rail 50. At this stage, the second protrusion peak 623 is leveled with the third protrusion peak 663 along a sliding direction of the sliding mechanism.

Referring to FIG. 5, in use, the inner rail 10 is dragged and slides a first predetermined distance in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5, until the first pin 633 slides from the first protrusion peak 613 to the first protrusion valley 611 and the first pin 633 is latched by the first protrusion 61. In this state, the inner rail 10 and the middle rail 30 are latched together such that the inner rail 10 can slide together with the middle rail 30; and the second pin 635 slides to the guiding valley 651 to expand the elastic element 64.

Referring to FIG. 6, continuing to drag the inner rail 10, because the first pin 633 is latched by the first protrusion 61, the inner rail 10, together with the middle rail 30, slides relative to the outer rail 50. As the inner rail 10 and the middle rail 30 slide relative to the outer rail 50, the second pin 635 slides to the third protrusion valley 661.

Referring to FIGS. 7-8, the inner rail is continued to be pulled and slides together with the middle rail 20 a second predetermined distance until the second pin 635 slides to the third protrusion 66. At this moment, the second pin 635 slides from the third protrusion valley 661 to the third protrusion peak 663 to drive the second pin 635 to slide from the guiding groove valley 651 toward the guiding groove peak 652. The first pin 633 can then pass through the first protrusion peak 613 making the first pin 633 release with the first protrusion 61. That is, the inner rail 10 may slide relative to the middle rail 30 again. Simultaneously, the resisting portion 655 resists the stopping surface 664 to prevent the middle rail 30 from continuing to slide relative to the outer rail 50. Continuing to pull the inner rail 10 makes the inner rail 10 slide relative to the middle rail 30, the first pin 633 slides to the first protrusion valley 611 so the inner rail 10 can further extend relative to the middle rail 30. Thus, the inner rail 10 is extended relative to the middle rail 30 and the outer rail 50. The movement of pushing the inner rail 10 to its original state is opposite to the movement of extending the rail relative to the middle rail 30 and the outer rail 50.

It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the exemplary invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A sliding mechanism, comprising: an outer rail; an inner rail; a middle rail between the outer rail and the inner rail, the middle rail having a resisting portion protruding therefrom, the middle rail slidably mounted to the outer rail in a first direction and the inner rail slidably mounted to the middle rail in the first direction; a latching assembly including a first protrusion positioned at the inner rail, a second protrusion positioned at the inner rail and spaced from the first protrusion, a third protrusion positioned at the outer rail, a roller being slidably mounted on the middle rail in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a stopping surface formed near the third protrusion; wherein when the inner rail slides relative to the middle rail in the first direction, the roller slides to and latches the second protrusion to make the middle rail sliding with the inner rail; and then the roller slides to and along the third protrusion until the resisting portion resists the stopping surface to prevent the middle rail from sliding relative to the outer rail and the roller slides relative to the middle rail in the second direction to release the roller from the second protrusion such that the roller slides along the first protrusion to make the inner rail further extends relative to the middle rail.
 2. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner rail includes two sliding plates respectively located at opposite sides thereof; the middle rail includes two sliding blocks respectively positioned at opposite sides thereof, each sliding block defines a sliding groove which slidably engages one of the sliding plates to enable the middle rail to slide relative to the inner rail.
 3. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer rail has two sliding slots respectively defined at opposite sides thereof, each sliding slot slidably engages with one of the sliding blocks so the outer rail can slide relative to the middle rail.
 4. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are both positioned at one side of the inner rail facing the middle rail.
 5. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first protrusion includes a first protrusion valley and a first protrusion peak; the second protrusion includes a second protrusion valley and a second protrusion peak; the third protrusion includes a third protrusion valley and a third protrusion peak.
 6. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the middle rail further defines a guiding groove to guide the roller to slide relative to the middle rail in the second direction.
 7. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the roller includes a main body, a first pin protruding from one side of the main body, a second pin protruding from another side of the main body; the first pin slides along the first protrusion when the inner rail slides relative to the middle rail, and the second pin slides along the third protrusion when the middle rail slides together with the inner rail relative to the outer rail.
 8. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the roller further defines a securing slot around the second pin near the main body, the securing slot slidably secures with the portions of the middle rail surrounding the guiding groove so the roller is slidably secured to the middle rail.
 9. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the roller further defines a retaining slot defined around the first pin near the main body; the sliding mechanism further includes an elastic element including a retaining ring formed one end thereof and wrapping in the retaining slot to latch the roller to the elastic element.
 10. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein the elastic element further includes a latching portion formed at the center thereof; the middle rail further includes a hook latching the latching portion to hold the elastic element to the middle rail.
 11. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the middle rail further includes a opening; the elastic element further includes a inserting portion formed another end thereof which is inserted in the opening to assist the elastic element to hold on the middle rail.
 12. A sliding mechanism, comprising: an inner rail including a first protrusion and a second protrusion spaced from the first protrusion; an outer rail including a third protrusion and a stopping surface located near the third protrusion; a middle rail slidably mounted between the inner rail and the outer rail along a first direction, the middle rail having a resisting portion protruding toward the outer rail; a positioning member being slidably mounted on the middle rail in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; wherein the positioning member latches with the second protrusion to enable the inner rail non-slidably latched with the middle rail when the inner rail slides a first predetermined distance relative to the middle rail in the first direction with the positioning member sliding along the first protrusion; the resisting portion is used to latch with the stopping surface to enable the middle rail non-slidably relative to outer rail after the inner rail together with the middle rail slides a second predetermined distance relative to the outer rail in the first direction with the positioning member sliding along the third protrusion; and the positioning member slides relative to the second protrusion in the second direction to release the positioning member from the second protrusion after the positioning member slides along the third protrusion so the inner rail can further slide relative to the middle rail in the first direction.
 13. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are both positioned at one side of the inner rail facing the middle rail, the first protrusion includes a first protrusion valley and a first protrusion peak; the second protrusion includes a second protrusion valley and a second protrusion peak; the third protrusion includes a third protrusion valley and a third protrusion peak.
 14. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein when the inner rail slides the first predetermined distance relative to the middle rail in the first direction, the positioning member slides from the first protrusion peak to the first protrusion valley.
 15. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein when the inner rail together with the middle rail slides the second predetermined distance relative to the outer rail in the first direction, the positioning member slides from the third protrusion valley to the third protrusion peak;
 16. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein after the positioning member releases from the second protrusion, the positioning member slides from the second protrusion peak to the second protrusion valley so the inner rail further slide relative to the middle rail in the first direction
 17. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sliding mechanism further includes an elastic element mounted between the middle rail and the positioning member; when the positioning member slides from the first protrusion peak to the first protrusion valley, the elastic element is expanded.
 18. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 17, wherein when the positioning member slides from the third protrusion valley to the third protrusion peak, the elastic member is compressed.
 19. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 17, wherein when the positioning member slides from the second protrusion peak to the second protrusion valley, the elastic member is expanded.
 20. The sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein the middle rail further defines a guiding groove to guide the positioning member to slide relative to the middle rail in the second direction. 